WEBVTT 00:04.705 --> 00:15.501 [SPEAKER_00]: As we continue this week, allowing the parables of Jesus to speak directly to our situations, mindsets, and core beliefs about who God is. 00:16.363 --> 00:21.891 [SPEAKER_00]: Today, we'll dive into the parables of the hidden treasure and valuable pearl. 00:23.113 --> 00:33.008 [SPEAKER_00]: Upon learning about God forsaking everything to find us, we'll assess our own hearts and see what they value most in this life. 00:34.051 --> 00:38.147 [SPEAKER_00]: open your heart today and choose to take an honest look. 00:38.970 --> 00:40.898 [SPEAKER_00]: You might be surprised at what you find. 00:41.882 --> 00:44.331 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:07.632 --> 01:23.251 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 13, verse 44, Scripture says, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found and covered up. 01:24.352 --> 01:31.260 [SPEAKER_00]: Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 01:35.138 --> 01:39.705 [SPEAKER_00]: If you could only have one thing in life, what would it be? 01:39.745 --> 01:43.831 [SPEAKER_00]: Take an honest look at your heart for a minute today. 01:45.253 --> 01:46.896 [SPEAKER_00]: What do you love most? 01:48.418 --> 01:50.922 [SPEAKER_00]: What would you give up everything else for? 01:53.486 --> 02:03.120 [SPEAKER_00]: Would you believe that your Heavenly Father's answer to those questions is you? 02:04.383 --> 02:08.887 [SPEAKER_00]: Would you believe he would give up everything to have relationship with you? 02:11.110 --> 02:21.460 [SPEAKER_00]: I once heard a life changing sermon in which the pastor proved by looking at Genesis 2 that God's greatest desire is relationship with us. 02:23.241 --> 02:34.272 [SPEAKER_00]: After God creates Adam in his own image, God says, it is not good that the man should be alone. 02:36.040 --> 02:39.189 [SPEAKER_00]: God brings every created animal before Adam. 02:39.891 --> 02:43.100 [SPEAKER_00]: To see if he deems any of them suitable as a helper. 02:44.243 --> 02:50.421 [SPEAKER_00]: In Genesis 220 says, but for Adam, there was not found a helper fit for him. 02:51.481 --> 02:58.571 [SPEAKER_00]: then without consulting Adam, God puts him to sleep and forms a woman out of his rib. 02:59.813 --> 03:08.386 [SPEAKER_00]: Seeing the woman upon waking Adam says, this at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. 03:09.147 --> 03:13.353 [SPEAKER_00]: She shall be called a woman because she was taken out of man. 03:15.797 --> 03:20.003 [SPEAKER_00]: How did God know Adam would want a woman as his helper? 03:20.742 --> 03:24.507 [SPEAKER_00]: How did God know she would be the desire of His heart? 03:26.010 --> 03:32.158 [SPEAKER_00]: God knew Adam most long for a bride because Adam was made in God's image. 03:33.180 --> 03:40.130 [SPEAKER_00]: And God's greatest desire is for a relationship with us, whom the Bible calls His bride. 03:42.333 --> 03:45.197 [SPEAKER_00]: Let the truth of God's heart sink in for a moment. 03:46.190 --> 03:50.575 [SPEAKER_00]: out of everything else God has created or could have created. 03:51.336 --> 03:54.520 [SPEAKER_00]: He most desires relationship with you. 03:56.502 --> 04:04.993 [SPEAKER_00]: And He so longed for you to know Him fully that He sent Jesus to die to make restored relationship possible. 04:06.675 --> 04:11.100 [SPEAKER_00]: God calls us to Himself daily with His love. 04:11.924 --> 04:20.478 [SPEAKER_00]: He stands at the door of our heart and knocks, back ining us with his loving kindness to simply come and know him. 04:22.241 --> 04:30.395 [SPEAKER_00]: Once we truly grasp the depth of God's desire for us, the only true response is to give up everything for him. 04:31.918 --> 04:38.168 [SPEAKER_00]: He laid the foundation for our commitment to him with the greatest single act of love. 04:38.738 --> 04:47.032 [SPEAKER_00]: And he simply waits, back ining us to respond, living our lives with him as our highest priority. 04:48.514 --> 04:57.810 [SPEAKER_00]: And he doesn't do so selfishly, but because the absolute best way for us to live our lives is in total commitment to him. 04:59.090 --> 05:08.412 [SPEAKER_00]: In Matthew 13 verses 44 through 46, Jesus tells a parable, explaining this response to God's unending love. 05:09.675 --> 05:17.453 [SPEAKER_00]: He says, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found and covered up. 05:18.412 --> 05:25.620 [SPEAKER_00]: And then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 05:25.640 --> 05:47.625 [SPEAKER_00]: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who on finding one pearl of great value went and sold all that he had and bought it. 05:48.635 --> 05:52.464 [SPEAKER_00]: relationship with Him is worth our entire lives. 05:53.868 --> 06:00.484 [SPEAKER_00]: Pursuing Him with all our heart is the absolute greatest ambition we could have. 06:02.050 --> 06:15.090 [SPEAKER_00]: Paul described this pursuit in Philippians 3-8 when he said, "'Indeed, I count everything as loss "'because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. 06:15.110 --> 06:25.446 [SPEAKER_00]: "'For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things "'and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ." 06:27.710 --> 06:30.454 [SPEAKER_00]: So again, reflect on your own heart. 06:31.582 --> 06:34.086 [SPEAKER_00]: What do you value above all else? 06:35.388 --> 06:38.954 [SPEAKER_00]: God's not angry with you if it truly isn't him. 06:40.056 --> 06:47.088 [SPEAKER_00]: You see, the truth is that our pursuit of God will only ever match our revelation of His goodness. 06:48.530 --> 06:56.644 [SPEAKER_00]: God knows that if he isn't truly the greatest desire of your heart, it's because you don't fully know how good he is. 06:57.552 --> 07:04.558 [SPEAKER_00]: If you had the full revelation of his love for you, living totally for him wouldn't even be a choice. 07:05.919 --> 07:14.287 [SPEAKER_00]: So great is the worth of knowing Jesus that as you see him, you will naturally give up everything to know Him more. 07:15.968 --> 07:26.057 [SPEAKER_00]: So today as you enter into prayer, know the first step in growing in your pursuit of God is acknowledging the posture of your own heart. 07:27.185 --> 07:30.468 [SPEAKER_00]: How strongly do you desire deeper relationship with him? 07:31.809 --> 07:34.071 [SPEAKER_00]: How much would you give up to know him? 07:35.673 --> 07:38.836 [SPEAKER_00]: What do you seek fulfillment in during your free time? 07:40.938 --> 07:45.903 [SPEAKER_00]: The second step is receiving a fresh revelation of his incredible love for you. 07:47.464 --> 07:57.073 [SPEAKER_00]: Spend time simply encountering his heart. 07:58.235 --> 08:05.026 [SPEAKER_00]: He so greatly enjoys you that He pursues you with all of His focus and energy. 08:07.130 --> 08:12.398 [SPEAKER_00]: And last, respond to a revelation of His love with Your own love. 08:13.781 --> 08:18.528 [SPEAKER_00]: Worship Him, adore Him, and live for Him with Your life. 08:19.971 --> 08:23.837 [SPEAKER_00]: You will encounter Him in anything you do as you worship. 08:25.268 --> 08:32.358 [SPEAKER_00]: He will pour out his presence, favor, and blessing in any area you live out of love for him. 08:34.241 --> 08:50.365 [SPEAKER_00]: Colossians 1, verses 13 and 14 says, He has delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 08:51.796 --> 08:54.140 [SPEAKER_00]: and Luke 1231 promises us. 08:55.041 --> 09:00.149 [SPEAKER_00]: Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 09:01.791 --> 09:06.338 [SPEAKER_00]: Perceue a deeper relationship with your heavenly Father today through prayer. 09:07.520 --> 09:15.272 [SPEAKER_00]: As you live for Him and seek His kingdom first, you'll discover all He has longed to add to your life. 09:51.719 --> 09:55.287 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, reflect on your own life. 09:56.850 --> 10:00.538 [SPEAKER_00]: How strongly do you desire deeper relationship with him? 10:02.061 --> 10:04.546 [SPEAKER_00]: How much would you give up to know him? 10:06.410 --> 10:09.677 [SPEAKER_00]: What do you seek fulfillment in during your free time? 10:11.345 --> 10:27.514 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 14 verse 2 says, the Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 10:52.975 --> 11:09.243 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, meditate on the depth of God's love for you. 11:09.283 --> 11:15.473 [SPEAKER_00]: Receive a fresh revelation of how greatly he enjoys you. 11:16.600 --> 11:23.671 [SPEAKER_00]: Think about the story in Genesis of how God's greatest desire was relationship with His bride. 11:25.374 --> 11:33.868 [SPEAKER_00]: Song of Solomon, two 14 says, oh my dove, tin the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff. 11:34.409 --> 11:35.571 [SPEAKER_00]: Let me see your face. 11:36.673 --> 11:43.063 [SPEAKER_00]: Let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. 12:07.782 --> 12:31.056 [SPEAKER_00]: And last, respond to God's love with your own. 12:31.981 --> 12:42.521 [SPEAKER_00]: spend time simply adoring him, spend time in solitude sitting with him, encountering his heart and giving him your own. 12:44.144 --> 12:49.214 [SPEAKER_00]: He paved the highest price for you just to be able to have a relationship with him. 12:50.617 --> 12:54.985 [SPEAKER_00]: So take time and be the reward of his sacrifice. 12:56.669 --> 13:19.572 [SPEAKER_00]: Jeremiah 29 13 says, you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 13:26.504 --> 13:53.575 [SPEAKER_00]: May we answer the call to live for love with our lives today. 13:54.567 --> 14:01.078 [SPEAKER_00]: May we live in response to this benediction found in Hebrews 12, 28, it says. 14:02.400 --> 14:15.462 [SPEAKER_00]: Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe. 14:30.325 --> 14:32.487 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 14:32.948 --> 14:34.829 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with verse 15. 14:35.810 --> 14:42.157 [SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day today, what's one act of worship you can give to your loving Heavenly Father? 14:43.057 --> 14:46.100 [SPEAKER_00]: What's one way you can demonstrate your love for Him? 14:47.201 --> 14:56.991 [SPEAKER_00]: Know that your father loves you no matter what, but there's no better experience throughout the day than giving and receiving love with God. 14:57.578 --> 15:05.269 [SPEAKER_00]: If you're new to this podcast, make sure to subscribe so you won't miss one of these daily guides to God's presence. 15:05.289 --> 15:14.483 [SPEAKER_00]: And if God did something meaningful in your life today, maybe giving you a specific sense of his love or giving you the gift of revelation or wisdom today. 15:15.164 --> 15:19.630 [SPEAKER_00]: Consider taking a moment to leave a rating and write a review of your experience. 15:20.812 --> 15:25.459 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you seek Him.